Dan Marino, Jason Taylor and … John Denney? Yes, Miami Dolphins’ elite list has new member

Dolphins long snapper John Denney has had a unique view in his 13-year NFL career. (Allen Eyestone / The Palm Beach Post)

DAVIE — Long snapper John Denney turned around and saw a rare sight: a group of reporters gathered at his locker in a semicircle, waiting to talk to him.

And he knew why.

“Because I’m such a crucial piece to this game,” he said. “And all the fans pay to see me snap, right?”

Denney has long accepted being the most-tenured and most-overlooked player on the Dolphins. He’s so easily overlooked that he’ll be a crucial piece — to borrow his words — of a wicked trivia question.

John Denney. (Bill Ingram / Palm Beach Post)

Name only three players to appear in 200 games for the Dolphins?

Dan Marino (242) and Jason Taylor (204) would be two correct responses, but Sunday night against the Oakland Raiders, Denney will join the 200 club.

“It’s an honor,” said Denney, 38. “But really, it’s another game. It’s been one at a time for my whole career and it just happened to be a round number this week.”

Denney will accomplish this by playing in his 200th consecutive game. Asked if he’s proud of that record, Denney said, “Proud? I don’t know if that’s the right word. I feel lucky.”

He has had injuries since joining the Dolphins in 2005. If he played any other position, he would have missed time. But being a long snapper, “I can get away with a lot,” he said.

His longevity, not to mention his long-term health, received a boost in recent years as the league has ceased to allow pass rushers to line up directly over him. Before, he said, “You’re bent over with your head between your legs and they can tee off as fast as they want.”

When Denney joined the Dolphins, Nick Saban was the coach, Gus Frerotte was the quarterback, Ronnie Brown the leading rusher and Wes Welker the return specialist. Denney went on to make the Pro Bowl in 2010 and ’12.

“John does a phenomenal job of keeping in outstanding shape,” said Darren Rizzi, the Dolphins’ special teams coordinator. “This is not a knock on the rest of the long snappers in the league, but some of those guys aren’t in the best condition in the world.”

Rizzi said Denney seems to be at the training facility as often Rizzi is, during the season or not.

“I think a lot of the younger players are surprised at how well conditioned he is,” Rizzi said.

That enables Denney to not only perfect snapping — his primary task, of course — but also be a good blocker and get downfield to help cover kicks. Denney credits “full-body conditioning,” including a focus on nutrition.

Denney is consistent to the point that it’s difficult to recall the last time he botched a snap. Denney was cagey as to whether he keeps track of such things.